Lacey cops seek sick man in Eagles cap in taxi robbery

LACEY – Police have released a sketch of a “sickly” man wearing a green Eagles baseball cap wanted in connection with the robbery last week of a cab driver who took a fare to Forked River from Lakewood.

The 50-year-old cab driver for Lakewood Taxi told police he was robbed Aug. 15 by a man he picked up in the area of Central Avenue and Route 9, according to police Chief David A. Paprota.

The cab driver described the man as having facial pock marks, black hair, a slender build, being 35 to 40 years old and approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall. He looked sickly, wore a black sweat shirt, a green Eagles hat with a white eagle, medium blue jeans, work boots and a chain wallet, he said.

The passenger asked to be taken to Lacey. The cab driver stated that he drove the customer to Lacey Township and was directed to drive down Lakeside Drive East and stopped just east of Mariner Road in Forked River, police said.

The cab driver was offered what he believed was a fake $100 bill. When the driver refused to take the money, the passenger wrapped a cord around the driver’s neck from behind, choking him, police said.

The driver reported that the man made a demand for money and he complied.

The man took $124 from the cab driver and ran from the taxi cab into a wooded area. The cabbie drove to Lacey Township Police Department to report the incident.

Sketch Artist Daimon Santa Maria of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department responded to police headquarters and prepared a sketch to assist with identifying the suspect.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Lacey Township Police Department at 609-6936636 or submit an anonymous crime tip through the Lacey Township Police Department at the www.LaceyPD.org/crime-tips/ website.